Doing a Car Boot Alone?

Outdoorlass

Hi all

Just need to pick brains really, I was supposed to be doing a car boot with my MIL this weekend, but she forgot she has a wedding to attend (its an age thing) So thats left just me and my 10 year old daughter, its not a massive boot sale and I don't have that much stuff to take either.

Do you think its risky doing it alone? My main worries are having more than one person to serve and trying to keep an eye on everything while I set up.

Also something thats also sprung to mind, is excepting larger notes? How do you know if they are fake? Would it be rude to check?

Thanks:cool:

charlies_mum

If you do it alone, don't set up as soon as you get there. At the car boots I go to, new booters are mobbed when they arrive and people are opening the car doors to look inside, and it is impossible to keep a check on everything.

I would arrive, then have a look around for half an hour to let the crush move on. You probably won't sell as much, but you are a lot less likely to get anything stolen.

Last time I did a car boot, I was given a fake £10 note, so if you aren't sure about a note, then check it. You can usually tell by the 'feel' if it is a fake.

Pembroke

Make friends with the people on the stall next to you so they can help you out if you need to leave the stall for any reason, don't have loads to drink before you go ! Take a snack and a bottle of drink, work out where the loos are when you arrive so that if you really must go then you are away from your stall for the shortest possible time. Does your ten year old want to help or will she get bored as you will have to look after her as well, don't let her distract you.

Have a secure place to put your money, either in a box inside the car or I use a bum bag. Take a float, have a sun hat rather than sunglasses as eye contact with a buyer makes you seem more honest.You may want a chair to sit on as using the car seats can be awkward. When you pack make sure the table is last into the car so it's first out. Keep small things away from the edge of the table so as not to tempt little hands. If it's really warm take a bowl of water and a bottle to refill it for your customers dogs, it keeps then at the stall longer and you'll be looked on as a good person. Say hello or good morning to everyone who looks at your stall.

If a large note worries you say you can't change it, better to loose a sale than gain a dud.

But most of all enjoy yourself.

preable

Yes best thing to go is get a bum bag and also as said above make freinds with the person next to our stall

markandkate

I have often done car boot sales alone with no problems. Is there any one who could just come and help you set up? If not just be polite but firm if people try to get in your car. Pack your tables in last and then get them out and close the car whilst you set tehm up and get yourself organised.

Add a bit on to your prices when you first start. I will often say if you come back later then if it has not sold then we can negoitate. Most people trying to stike a deal whenyou are unpacking are wanting to make money off you by selling your item on so don't feel guilty or pressured in to accepting a quick sale.

Its not a bad idea to consider which car boot sale as many of them are no more than markets these days. I try to find the local ones that are for charities etc as they tend to have more "genuine" car booters and a bit freindlier.

It is a good idea to chat to the pesron ext to you and then they will look after yor stall while you nip to the loo and you can do the same for them. Take a flask of tea or a coffee or a bottle of water as you will need a drink.

the other advice is sound too good luck

George666

Hi OP if you are taking a child one trick to keep their attention is to tell them to sort out some of their own unwanted toys and give them their own section of the table to sell them on this will keep them occupied.
Everyone says take a drink so do I it is very important if you are selling on your own.
Take as many empty plastic carrier bags as you can find as buyers always like a free bag.
I never accept £20 notes if I can help it if someone is buying something for a pound and wants to use a £20 note I just say I have no change.
Take plenty of change with you.:rotfl:
That is about all I can think of all the other advise seems to have covered eveything else.
Most of all enjoy yourself and good luck I hope you make a pile of cash.

Outdoorlass

Aww thank you all for the advice! Just hoping its dry when I get up at 6am now, theres quite a lot of boot sales in my area, but some are more like traders markets, so I have opted for a much smaller venue, probably usually no more than 30 cars there, but all genuine booters, just people getting rid of their stuff and the stall fee goes to charity, so its nice to know that the money you give is helping someone else.

I won't make a great deal, will be happy with £40.

Thanks again x

Outdoorlass

Hi everyone

Well I did the boot sale with my 10 year old and it was fine, glad I opted for the small charity one though, couldn't have coped with too many people around my stall all at once!

I was mostly selling my childrens grown out of clothes, that aren't perhaps good enough for Ebay. Also some curtains, pictures and kids shoes that they have outgrown. Really didn't think I would sell the shoes, but one lady bought 6 pairs for a fiver and she seemed very happy with that price:cool: The clothes went really well especially considering that I had to ditch the rail as it kept blowing over in the wind and stuck them in bin bags on the floor instead, something I don't really like doing. I just made people who were looking at my stall aware that there girls clothing in the bin bags, seemed to do the trick.

Anyway I made £62.00 stall cost me £6 and as I was leaving, I went for a mooch about myself (couldn't resist) and bought two notice boards and an inflatable jousting type game all for £4. So have come home with £52 in my pocket:j I probably could have made more as I did let some items go for much less than I should have, as the buyers were pensioners and I felt bad asking for too much. Didn't sell everything, still got a bit of stuff, ready for the next one, which I will be doing with my MIL as I know she has loads of stuff to get rid off, she is a serial hoarder and car booter.

Was surprised that no-one even looked at my Poole Coffee Pot though!

masterlumps

only problem i ever had doing a boot sale alone was when i needed to pee